Detour Gold Updates Detour Lake Life-of-Mine Plan



Detour Lake’s mining rates are expected to average 252,000 mt/d in 2014, rising to 389,000 mt/d in 2020. The haulage
truck fleet is projected to increase from the current 23 trucks to 41 trucks at the peak of the mine operation from 2026 to
2031, according to project owner Detour Gold.
Detour Gold has announced an updated life-of-mine plan for its 100% owned Detour Lake open-pit mine in northeastern Ontario. The mine poured its first gold in February 2013 and reached commercial production in September 2013. Production during 2013 totaled 232,287 oz of gold, and production during 2014 is forecast at between 450,000 and 500,000 oz of gold at an estimated total cash cost of $800 to $900/oz of gold sold.

The new Detour Lake mine production plan supports a 21.7-year operating life from current mineral reserves standing at 15.5 million oz of gold in 476 million metric tons (mt) grading 1.02 g/mt gold. Mill throughput is planned to increase from 55,000 mt/d currently to 61,000 mt/d in 2017. Life-of-mine average annual gold production is forecast at approximately 660,000 oz/y at total cash costs of C$723/oz sold. Five-year average annual gold production is forecast at approximately 600,000 oz/y at total cash costs of C$759/oz sold.

Detour Lake mining rates are expected to average 252,000 mt/d in 2014 and increase to a peak of 389,000 mt/d in 2020. The haulage truck fleet is projected to increase from the current 23 trucks to 41 trucks at the peak of the mine operation from 2026 to 2031, with no additional shovels beyond the current two electric rope shovels and three hydraulic shovels. The mining fleet will be supported by two smaller shovel/excavators.

Detour Gold continues to stockpile material grading between 0.4 and 0.5 g/mt gold, estimated at 107.3 million mt averaging 0.45 g/mt gold over the life of the mine. This ‘mineralized waste’ is not included in the mineral resources or in the current mine plan. It could potentially be processed at the end of the mine life, depending on the gold price environment.

Regarding the new Detour Lake life-ofmine plan, Detour Gold COO Pierre Beaudoin said, “The mine plan reflects our operating experience gained during the past two years in pioneering the pit and, over the past year, operating the process plant. The mine plan optimizes the first five years, while addressing our operational risks.”


As featured in Womp 2014 vol 03 - www.womp-int.com